Just saw BORIS a few days ago and they killed. Lots of stuff crowd pleasing stuff from PINK and Smile. They went from BIG and LOUD down to Wata singing so quietly the crowd nearly overpowered her. Wata is unbearably cute, especially when she is doing screeching leads on her LP.

Zola Jesus on Wednesday night with witty and urbane Whitechapeller Ben Gwalchmai. So atmospheric. She's hyperactive, that woman. Music excellent, club dingy; good time enjoyed by all. Twitching to see Fever Ray on Wednesday.

Music Fest NorthWest is in gear in Potland, OR. Last night I saw Panda Bear. Super mellow and highly visual. Not quite what I was expecting.

Ted Leo tonight with The Thermals (don't know if I'll stay for them). Looking forward to it. Then the Black Lips and maybe Abe Vigoda amongst others Friday. Saturday is a crap shoot. I if I can get in to see YOB, Neurosis dude and Sleep, I will.

And finally, I sold my ticket to The National (zzzz...) to a cute girl on craigslist for $20.

Saw The Mountain Goats on wednesday in Leeds. Full band show. They played Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton and others.Was really good, except for the lone crowd surfer (I didn't know TMG was condusive to crowdsurfing, might have been something to do with the heat).

going to see KILL THE CLIENT on tuesday...at a storage unit run by kids who i dont think really are to keen on me anymore. the cliqueishness of punk is really sapping the fun out of it for me lately. it only took nearly 15 years! (which is a joke in itself since nearly everyone else i know/knew already pretty much dropped out/only goes to shows they play and dont really care about touring bands anymore/whinewhinewhine)

whoops missed the show. anyways i will be in Los Angeles in two weeks for ATARI TEENAGE RIOT, barring something going extremely wrong. i have only been waiting like 14 years to see them, so this will be quite an occasion

wish i was in california this week...FAILURES are playing five CA shows. for the people who wish the corporate shows they go to were crazy: well, here ya goSaturday, September 186 pmUnity Church Long Beach935 E. BroadwayLong Beach, CA$8-FAILURESMOTHERCOUNTRY MOUTHERFUCKERSACXDCARCTIC CHOKEBROKEN PATTERNSLOW PLACES

also, im not a fan, but for the PERFECT CIRCLE folks, they will be doing multi-night stands in 5 cities this fall/winter, each night playing a different record in its entirety.

The Sisters of Mercy: two nights at the Leeds Metropolitan University. 16th and 17th Feb 2011. Rumour has it that these will be the only 2 UK gigs for the (as yet unannounced) 2011 Feb/Mar tour. Yours truly will be going to both, naturally.

Caught The Sword, Fear Factory and Metallica in Melbourne last week. It was a good gig although the crowd didn't seem as expressive as one you'd get at a metal gig in NZ (shit, people got away with heels in the standing area down by the stage - fucked up! - we only managed to get seated tickets). Only caught the end of The Sword but their weak point as on the records of theirs I've heard is the vocalist: he's just not very good. Fear Factory and Metallica were pretty damn good.

Money's tight at the moment but Grouper's playing in my home town (Wellington) next week and the gig's very cheap so I hope to get to that, as well as - pending money - Low and Sage Francis next month. Anyone know how any of these artists are live?